Apple announces launch date for its iPad; tablet will be in stores April 3rd, pre-orders starting March 12th

Apple announced today that its new tablet, the iPad, will be in stores starting Saturday, April 3. The WiFi model without 3G capability will be available first, with 3G models promised by late April. Apple also said that both the WiFi and 3G models will launch at the same time in Canada and Europe — late in April.Pre-orders begin March 12, as eager buyers will be able to begin spending their allowances of all models of the iPad online.

The press release mentions the new iBooks app, but does not say if it will be available on day one. The new books app will feature a bookstore and “will feature books from the New York Times Best Seller list from both major and independent publishers, including Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins Publishers, Macmillan Publishers, Penguin Group and Simon & Schuster,” according to the release.